|
|
|
Invitation to the Public to Comment on a Proposed Foam (EPS) Ban and Fee on Disposable Shopping Bags
The Seattle City Council Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee will hear comments from the public on a proposal to ban certain uses of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and impose a 20 cent fee on disposable shopping bags at Seattle’s convenience, drug, and grocery stores. SPU proposes to use bag fee revenues to partially offset planned rate increases for the City’s recycling and waste disposal services in addition to education, outreach, and assistance to low-income families and small businesses.
|
|
|
|
| Date: |
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 |
| Time: |
7 p.m. |
| Location: |
Council Chambers, Second Floor, City Hall, 600 4th Ave, Seattle |
|
|
|
|
|
Legislation
The proposed legislation on EPS:
- Bans the use of expanded polystyrene for the purpose of food packaging in grocery stores and restaurants.
|
|
|
|
|
Councilmember since: 1998
Current Term: 2006-2009
Committees:
Chair: Environment, Emergency Management & Utilities
Vice-Chair: Parks & Seattle Center
Member: Labor Policy; and
Energy & Technology
Staff:
Elaine Ko,
Phyllis Shulman, &
Rob Gala
Issues of Interest:
Healthy Communities, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Opportunity, and Social Justice
Regional Organizations:
Vice-Chair of the Growth Management Planning Council of King County, Member, Board of Health of Seattle and King County, Executive Committee of the Puget Sound Regional Council, Green-Duwamish and Cedar River Salmon Recovery Councils |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The proposed fee on disposable shopping bags:
- Creates a compulsory 20 cent fee on all disposable shopping bags, paper and plastic, provided at the check-out stand in grocery, drug, and convenience stores.
- Allows retailers with $1 million or greater annual revenue to keep five cents out of twenty on each bag collected to cover administrative costs of the program.
- Stores under $1 million annual revenue would be allowed to retain all fees collected.
- Sets aside funds to provide free shopping bags for seniors and low income families.
- SPU plans to offset a portion of future solid waste rate increases by dedicating fees collected to the solid waste fund.
Click here for more information about Green Fee and Foam Ban Proposals.
Translated Bag and Foam Public Comment Notice
 中文 - Chinese
조선말 - Korean
Af Soomaali - Somali
Español - Spanish
Tagalog
tiếng Việt - Vietnamese
Sign-up sheets for public comment will be available outside Council Chambers at 6:30 pm.
Written comments can be submitted by July 11 to richard.conlin@seattle.gov or to Councilmember Richard Conlin, PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025.
For more information contact: Rob Gala at (206) 684-8805 or rob.gala@seattle.gov.
To request interpretation, please call (206) 684-8146 at least four days in advance.
Local Food Action Initiative:
(PDF files )
The Local Food Action Initiative is a series of actions meant to promote local and regional food sustainability and security. The intent is to improve our local food system and in doing so, advance the City of Seattle’s interrelated goals of race and social justice, environmental sustainability, economic development, and emergency preparedness.
Climate Change
"Concerned or confused about climate change? Wondering if anything you do can make a difference?" The Seattle City Council invites all constituents and members of the community to participate in community discussions with the "Greater Seattle Climate Dialogues". Your voice is needed as the community comes together to learn and dialogue about solutions. Get involved today to help solve one of the most pressing issues of our times. Contact Toni Higgs, Coordinator, at 206-718-7879 or toni@2people.org, and see the website.
|
|
